Chapter 124 - Mission Infiltration

After having their dinner, Zander invited Vaughn and Zenia to the garden. Vaughn and Zenia were planning to travel back to Tissuria on the following day. They would be riding Thunderbolt to save time. Vaughn's horse, Quicksilver, could find his way back to Tissuria on his own.

"What do you want to talk about Big Brother?"

Zander sat down, and the couple followed. A maid brought them some drinks and desserts. Zenia had always loved having desserts after a meal.

"I received a message from Zeze this afternoon. He said that they will be on their way to Gretia. If you have decided to return to Tissuria, you can meet them in Gretia. He also said that he already sent some men to scout the place and check for the spies and secret guards in the area."

In Zekiah's estimate, the Ninth Prince would encounter some trouble allocating his men. The itinerary did not specify the place that they were supposed to stay in at Gretia.

Ruvin suggested a villa that they had rarely used. No one knew that place, not even the Ninth Prince. Zekiah told Zander to inform Vaughn that they would be staying in a villa owned by Ruvin's family. They still did not receive any message from Redivo.  

"So according to younger brother-in-law's message, they are on their way to Gretia? They did not encounter any problem at all?" Vaughn was a bit perplexed at the behavior of the Ninth Prince and the Left Minister.

In his estimate, they should be causing a lot of trouble in the Palace of the Crown Prince already. What were they waiting for? In less than a couple of weeks, he and Zenia were expected to return to their palace. Vaughn suddenly thought that someone could be blocking the messages from Redivo.

"Did you find anything odd Big Brother? The Ninth Prince and the Left Minister should be making a ruckus by now, why are they quiet?"

"We are monitoring the things that are happening in Tissuria, and we did not receive any alarming report. Even my men who joined the Ninth Prince's group in Luna Inn have never seen the shadow of the Ninth Prince. They have no assignments, but they heard that most of them were deployed in different areas of Tissuria to monitor something."

Vaughn and Zenia looked at each other.

"Zenzen, we need to go back now. I think someone is blocking Redivo's messages or the news about the things that are currently happening in the capital."

"I think so too. Let us prepare and leave tomorrow immediately."

"Before you go, let us discuss my great idea." Zander flashed a mischievous smile and looked at Vaughn.

"That's right, what do you intend to do brother-in-law?"

Zenia looked at the two men with a puzzled look in her eyes.

'Since when did these two develop a harmonious relationship?'

"Zenzen, don't look at us like that. This brat will always be a brat in my eyes. We just need to have mutual cooperation now and strike while the iron is hot." Zander reasoned out and Vaughn just shook his head.

'Who's being a brat between you and me?'

"What's the plan Big Brother?"

Zander looked at Vaughn and asked, "Do you have the list that I gave you earlier?"

Zander asked Vaughn as if he was asking his subordinate. Vaughn sneered secretly but did not say anything. He knew that Zander was being difficult again.

He retrieved the list from his coat pocket and put it on the table. Zenia looked at the list and picked it up. Her eyes widened when she saw that it contained the names and capabilities of the listed men.

"Is this the Left Minister's private army," Zenia's eyes were sparkling when she asked her Big Brother.

"Yes!" Zander responded with a smug face.

"So fast! I did not expect that Johan would be able to get it so quickly." Zenia put down the list and smiled at Vaughn.

"That's the reason why we have gathered here today. I'd like to turn the month-long covert operation into an infiltration mission."

Vaughn and Zenia looked at each other, and they both turned their heads at the same time to Zander.

Zander gave them a wide grin. "I plan to replace the men in the Ninth Prince's assassins group with men from our side. They communicate using sign language, which we use here in Ishelon. We already know how they operate, and it is not too complicated to learn everything. No one in the assassins' group suspects us. My men can communicate with them without trouble. We can copy their markings flawlessly. In short, we will replace every assassin in that camp. We have developed our own signs to verify the identity of our men."

"Brother-in-law, how many men do you have? Are they enough to cover the number of men that the Ninth Prince has and still have enough men to guard Ishelon?" Vaughn had seen the soldiers, and they were not that many.

Zenia and Zander grinned at him. They could guess what was going on in Vaughn's head. Vaughn shuddered when he saw how the siblings looked at him.

"The right question should be how many MILITARY CAMPS do you have in Ishelon?" Zenia smiled at him and nodded her head slightly.

Vaughn's eyes sparkled, and he grinned just like the siblings.

* * * * *

Damien learned that Verone had not entered Vaughn's palace. Redivo was using the excuse that the courtyard, where Verone would stay, was under major renovation. It was difficult for them to acc.u.mulate the needed funds since the master was currently away. The main residence was locked up, and no one had the key to open it. Opening it forcefully would mean unlawful entry, even if the one who would do it was the King or Queen. In Tissuria, the people put great importance on their right to privacy. The Left Minister could do nothing but wait patiently.

"Master, we are renovating the courtyard according to the pace that you told us. The men just finished repairing the door, and they are working in a very, very slow manner. The Crown Prince and Princess should be here before we can start renovating the rooms." Redivo reported to the old man who gave him a silly smile.

"Good, very good. Let's see what they will do next. I'm sure they will not stop until they put that despicable woman inside the palace." The old man pinched his chin gently and repeatedly.

"Should we send a message to inform His Highness?"

The old man looked at Redivo with livid eyes. "What nonsense are you spouting? I am here, am I not? I can take care of things and just let the two lovebirds enjoy their vacation. They have so many things to take care of upon their return. It is only right to let them enjoy their lives for a while."

Redivo shook his head and pitied Vaughn. He was glad that the former King was not his grandfather.

"What's happening in Vaughn's palace? Why are they not letting Verone enter?" Damien was fuming mad when he learned that Verone was still staying in the Left Minister's estate.

"Answering Your Highness, the courtyard where she should be staying is still under renovation. The people of the Crown Prince also reasoned that they don't have enough funds to renovate the whole courtyard in one go. They could only wait for the earnings of the Crown Prince's business to buy the things they need for the ongoing renovations."

"Why don't they ask help from the King?"

"They said that it was inappropriate to ask for money from the King just to finish the renovation of the courtyard of the Crown Prince's second wife. That would be too shameful."

Damien gritted his teeth. They all knew that it was only a ploy of Vaughn's people to delay Verone from entering the Palace of the Crown Prince.

"What about the entourage? Where are they now? Jorick did not report anything to me. In his last message, he said that everything was normal. They always dined together and went to different places together, but they did not look like they are newlyweds. They are like a couple of tourists who happen to be in the same tour group. I just can't believe that Vaughn will not try anything. It's like he doesn't care at all. Is he not suspicious?"

"Your Highness, it is possible that the Crown Prince is currently thinking of ways to get rid of the Crown Princess. I heard that the renovations in the villa that the King gave him have been completed. Maybe, he allocated his funds to finish the villa and decided to supervise the renovations of Ms. Verone's courtyard upon his return."

"Hmm, it could be the case. Our spy in the Palace of the Crown Prince reported that Vaughn and Zenia were like strangers living under the same roof. They may look like they love each other very much whenever they attend a banquet, but it's a lie. Go check that spy and see if she is truly loyal to us."

"Yes, Your Highness."

'Vaughn, what are you really up to?' Damien smirked as he looked out his window.